Broncos to trade (LOL) or cut D.J. Williams Lard

According to Mike Klis, Denver will attempt to trade D.J. and his $6M salary, and if when they're unable to do so, they'll cut him prior to April 15, which is apparently the first day of the offseason conditioning program.

Williams is owed no guarantees, but is set to count for $8,082,500 against Denver's cap this season. Any team that would trade for him would assume the non-guaranteed $6M salary, and the Broncos will be left with $2,082,500 in dead cap space whether they cut or trade him.

At this point, the Broncos are hoping against hope that they'll get a seventh-rounder in the 2030 Draft, if it's even possible to trade a pick that far out (we're not sure).

Even if another team sees D.J. as a plug-in starting linebacker - and that's entirely reasonable - they're not going to want to pay him $6M for one season, when they know he'll be hitting the open market in short order, and will probably be signable for about half that figure.

If Elway & Co. are able to get a pick - any pick - back in exchange for D.J., then John will already be well on his way to 2013 Exec of the Year contention.

That's not so much a knock on D.J., as it is the reality that trading a player like him, with his contract, when the whole world knows he's about to get cut, is exceptionally unlikely.

As for Klis's contention that, "From 2007-11, Williams may have been the best defensive player who never received a Pro Bowl berth," well, that's worth a rich and hearty LOL.

Perhaps he's just lubing us all up for the laughable assertion that follows the D.J. news:

I continue to say that if Tebow were a starting quarterback and had an offense, defense and special teams (strong punter) built around his skill set, he would post a winning record, health willing.

LoLz.

BTW, note the not-so-subtle change from Nate Irving and Steven Johnson will compete for the starting Mike job, to:

The Broncos...plan to play Nate Irving in the middle.

No idea what Nate's done in the past few weeks to win the gig, but congratulations to him.

Broncos

Not sure if this is more a source of pride or embarrassment, but Bill Will echoes Ted's and my suggestion that San Diego would make sense as a suitor for Ryan Clady's services. Odd that Bill doesn't even consider for a second that the Broncos might welcome such a scenario, and this line is a bit of an eyebrow-raiser:

Even if Denver would match an offer San Diego made, it could be worth it to the Chargers because they could dictate the terms and that could disrupt Denver’s offseason plans because it is currently not counting on giving Clady a long-term deal at this moment.

Trying (failing) to ignore the "currently...at this moment" (hooray, journalism school!), this doesn't read as something Bill Will would know about. If the Broncos aren't actually going to negotiate in good faith with Ryan toward a long-term deal, it's incredibly difficult to believe they'd be telegraphing that through the press at this juncture...presently.

Mark this one down for future reference: according to Kiszla, the 23-year-old Rahim Moore will never make a Pro Bowl.

Missy Franklin emceed a Make-A-Wish event at the Hyatt Regency and brought along Eric Decker to wait tables.

News

Although the deal was reported as being worth $120M over six years, Joe Flacco's new contract is actually for seven years and $127.3M; Mike Freeman thinks the Ravens have a chance to become dynastic, now that they've locked up Flacco; Les Carpenter wonders what kind of deal Flacco woulda/coulda gotten, had Rahim Moore made the play. UGH.

Dallas agreed to a two-year deal with center Phil Costa, who had been set to become a restricted free agent.

DT Cullen Jenkins, who has already met with the Giants, will visit with the Seahawks and Niners in the coming days.

Tony Pauline says there will be a whole lot of cornerbacks taken in the first three rounds of the draft, and he shocks the world with news that Sexy Rexy has a bigger mouth than does new LOLJets GM John Idzik.

Good call on the quoth. Changed it at the last moment and wish I had not.

Posted by El_Don_de_Taos on 2013-03-04 11:14:44

Yes your missing the fact that John has been upgrading the players since he got here. smart, leaders and college captain types. Dj really does not fit into any of those catagories. He is well liked in the the locker room but I suspect that will not be missed all that much when he is gone.

We save 6 mil by cutting him. Plain and simple he was not used hardly at all and accounted for a whooping 7 tackles in 2012. All because he was a dumb ass, he had no me else to blame but himself.

John is simply going to up grade the roster spot to a smarter player.

Btw has anyone thought about if we lose Clady to FA we may actually get an extra draft choice for losing him compensatory.

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2013-03-04 01:47:06

I think the problem is that the Jets are insisting that it be a first and a third for Revis and Tebow.

Posted by tunesmith on 2013-03-03 20:29:02

it's hard for someone to accept a ST role after losing the starting gig AND a paycut.

Posted by Orange_and_Blue on 2013-03-03 20:25:12

Strange that, according to Klis, Denver is reportedly attempting to trade DJ, or, if not successful, to cut him. Makes little sense IMO to release the "cut" information if the attempt to trade him is legitimate. The only thing that makes sense to me is that they will cut him, then offer a contract at a base or minimum level. Am I missing something?

Posted by ivanthenotsobad on 2013-03-03 19:42:21

Poe, is rolling over.

Posted by ivanthenotsobad on 2013-03-03 19:18:36

Brilliance in reference-punning

Posted by Doc Bear on 2013-03-03 19:16:58

Actually, I think (hope) Denver's stance is for Revis to fulfill his present contract (2013 - 9 mill; 2014 - 6 mil; 2015 - 6 mil) to establish his health and to set up the next contract. And then just for a player plus (?Doom and a 4th) or draft picks (a 1st, maybe plus). Anything other than that is more trouble than it's worth IMO. Revis is good, but high risk, both physically and cap-wise and locker-room-wise.. Hopefully, Revis might want a chance at a ring, which he'll never get in NY (unfortunately, I live here).

That "intangibles can overcome all else" crap made me want to wretch. For obvious reasons.

Posted by ohiobronco on 2013-03-03 15:52:48

I agree that it doesn't make a lot of sense. However, I assume that Denver would not pull the trigger without first agreeing with him on a new contract.

Posted by AldenBrown on 2013-03-03 15:22:08

During the pursuit of Manning, when the Denver Post and the national media kept claiming that Tennessee or SF were the front runners, Bob was insisting all along that he was coming to Denver. He seemed to be plugged into something.

Posted by AldenBrown on 2013-03-03 15:20:20

See third paragraph

Posted by Douglas Lee on 2013-03-03 14:51:58

I just don't see how Revis makes any sense to the Broncos. Zero. Here are some reasons:1) Not a real need - Harris was awesome, I like him as a starter. Please stop reading this if you think Champ is done or should move to Safety.

2) His contract demands - Don't need 2 high-priced corners, much less one who is unhappy with every contract he signs3) Coming off a knee surgery - he will probably be fine but why would you give him a $50m contract before finding out

4) Trade doesn't make sense. No way we would give up a 1st rounder for a player in a contract year and I don't know if a 2nd + is worth it.

Am I taking crazy pills? No way our FO would consider this. Am I right?

Posted by Broncologist on 2013-03-03 14:41:41

I feel like Billy Madison. We are all dumber for having read that.

Posted by Broncologist on 2013-03-03 14:23:20

What is the salary cap hit if DJ is released?

Posted by bradley on 2013-03-03 13:35:00

I'm excited about Revis, as much as Denver was great through the year with stats in the 2ndary, we still lost because of it. Also, think the cut of Williams and potentially Mays, helps the cap issue to offset it. What if Dumervil was part of the trade too? At this point, I think Von makes D'ville better than he might actually be and he is pulling down some serious cap.

Frankly, I hope it happens...GO Broncos and thanks IAOFM for simply the best coverage on the planet for NFL.

Posted by Joshua Graham on 2013-03-03 13:26:54

I'm guessing mays restructures. Great special team guy who will only get the minimum.

Posted by Dan VanderPloeg on 2013-03-03 13:17:02

Has anyone ever seen Mike Klis and Porkchop in the same room at the same time? That sentence could/should have come from Ol' Tubs himself.

If Nate Webster played in a starting defense allowed to have 12 players on the field, improved his angles, reads, block-shedding and overall game, and got lucky, he could conceivably be part of a defense with a chance to be above average, if everything broke right.

Posted by Chibronx on 2013-03-03 13:13:10

I wonder if DJ and Mays will share a cab to the airport on April 15.

Posted by Orange_and_Blue on 2013-03-03 13:09:06

had to look it up. well done

Posted by Orange_and_Blue on 2013-03-03 13:08:09

I am curious about this special team unit built around UT's "talents". Elite onside kick recovery unit, return unit good for three TDs a game, anything else?

Posted by ohiobronco on 2013-03-03 13:02:17

"So, apparently the reason Russell Wilson is a really good quarterback is he has lots of intangibles. Double ugh."

I suppose Pompei's article on intangibles and how everybody now wants to get someone who has them is the kind of dribble we should expect this time of year. But who can take seriously a list of all time "high intangible" guys that includes Namath and Stabler but leaves out our very own John Elway. Who ever packed more average teams on his back and took them to more improbable wins than John?

And anyway, the whole "intangibles" as the new thing every team is looking for seems goofy. Maybe Russell Wilson is a good QB just because he is a good QB.

Posted by Alaskan on 2013-03-03 12:44:13

This is possibly the best thing I've ever read, dude. You are on my El Hombre list for this.

Posted by TJ Johnson on 2013-03-03 12:25:29

AB, I have a piece on the shelf about ICB, just can't bring myself to finish it. If ICB knowns one thing, it's the Jets, though, for sure. I wouldn't dismiss it, certainly.

Posted by TJ Johnson on 2013-03-03 12:24:47

Man those DP "writers" are always good for a few laughs. Can't say that enough.

Hasta la pasta, DJ. It's been fun, and a dissapointment.

I will continue to root for R. Moore, especially after a dumb prediction like that. We should keep a notebook full of "predictions" from those dolts.

Spikes ran a 5.1 40yd, so I don't think it matters, but I think he had better tape to back up his play.

Posted by Ralph_W on 2013-03-03 12:14:32

Incarcerated Bob continues to say that Denver has a first and a third on the table for Revis, but that the Jets are in no hurry and are still hoping for a bidding war. Legwold's head would explode if this happened, although in this instance I'm not sure I would blame him.